Elections in Swaziland in 1967
The 1967 elections in Swaziland for the National Assembly of Swaziland (National Assembly) took place in April 1967 in the British Protectorate Area of Swaziland .
Starting position
In accordance with the constitution in force at the time, the National Assembly consisted of 24 elected members and 6 other members who were nominated by the King to represent interests that were not adequately represented. There was also a Senate made up of 6 elected members and 6 members appointed by the king.
In contrast to the previous elections in 1964, all citizens of Swaziland who were at least 18 years of age could now vote. As a result, there were no restrictions for ethnic groups, such as in neighboring South Africa . Of the 395,264 citizens of Swaziland (1966 census), around 250,000 had the right to vote.
Process and result
Four parties took part in the elections, which took place on April 19-20, 1967. The turnout was estimated at 90 percent.
The traditionalist-oriented Imbokodvo National Movement (INM), the political organization close to the king, had many regular voters and sympathizers in all parts of the country, in urban and rural areas.
The main opposition party was the Pan-African oriented Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) under the leadership of the doctor of medicine Ambrose Zwane . The expenses for the election campaign of the NNLC were financially supported by the OAU . Two other smaller political groups involved in the elections were the Swaziland Progressive Party (SPP), led by JJ Mquku, and the Swaziland United Front (SUF), chaired by Obed Mabuza. The most important political organization of the population of European descent, the United Swaziland Association , did not take part in the elections, but supported the Imbokodvo.
All 24 parliamentary seats were won by the Imbokodvo National Movement , whose chairman at the time, Prince Makhosini Dlamini, assumed the role of Prime Minister.
Post-election developments
After the elections, Ambrose Zwane asked the OAU for help in reforming the constitution of Swaziland because, in his opinion, the election results in the urban areas would not represent adequate will of the voters. He also spoke out in favor of new elections before the country's independence, which is now foreseeable. In order to emphasize this demand, he visited Great Britain .
King Sobhuza II took the oath on the constitution. With the appointment of 6 members of the National Assembly to which he was entitled, he designated four whites, one colored and one black as members of parliament. He appointed a white man to the Senate.
Prime Minister Dlamini appointed white MP Leo Lovell to the cabinet he had formed. In July 1967 Dlamini declared that when his country gained full independence from the neighboring state of South Africa, a very close partnership on the basis of its own sovereignty would be sought. His government work will be based on the principles of non-racial politics, non-interference in the affairs of other countries and good neighborly relations.